The Fall Recital is coming! And that means so is the stage fright!
Last night at Teacher Time (our monthly group coaching here at KSM) we shared tips for channeling the extra (read: panicky!) energy that comes with performing. Because, let’s face it! We’ve all been there.
Ms. Paige shared her “Square Breathing” or “Box Breathing” technique. With this technique,
Outline one side of a square with your fingers in the air as you breathe in for 4 counts.
Hold for 4 counts as you trace the next side of the square.
Breathe out for 4 counts as you exhale, tracing the 3rd side of the square.
Hold for 4 counts as you trace the last side of the square.
Do this for 3-5 minutes. Deep, slow breathing signals to the vagus nerve that we are resting and safe. This calms the fight/flight/freeze response and puts us back in the driver’s seat.
If that doesn’t work? Ms. Paige will tell her students random math facts to take their mind off their nerves! 🤣🤣🤣
Mr. Caleb likes to share stories about times he has been nervous to show his students that no one is immune, and that it’s really normal to feel nervous! This is great, because in the moment, it can feel as though you’re the only one who gets stage fright. So he normalizes this feeling and makes it safe to talk about.
Mr. Caleb also reminds his students that he will be right there with them as they play, and that the audience is full of safe people.
Mr. Clay doesn’t let his students play their pieces over and over. This is good because fixating on your recital piece sets us up to spiral! He encourages them to warm up with their technique assignment, then they play their piece through once or twice - that’s it!
I (Ms. Kat) make sure to walk around backstage before the recital, making eye contact with each student, smiling at them, and chatting with them. I’ll help them tune, and reiterate that all of us teachers are there to support them and help them experience success. I tell them I’m already proud of them and will be no matter what.
Here at Kat Starr Music, we know performance is stressful, but also a really useful life skill! At some point or other, all of our students will speak in public, play music or sing in public, and have to showcase their work in some way. We want to be their first experience of this type and to help it be a rewarding experience in which they don’t doubt that we are there for them and with them.
And then of course, after the recital, we have about a gazillion doughnuts and do goofy pictures to decompress. It’s so wonderful to see how our students have grown over the years through their recital experiences. We love offering this rich and rewarding experience to all our students!
What are your favorite tricks for stage fright?